Amos l



'1 A. L. KNIGHT.- I

. METHOD OF MAKING MATR'IQES FOR CASTING ELEMENTS 0F PRINTING FORMS- APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15. 1918.

1,307,675. Pafented June M, 1919f v Z6 9 .1 I 42 41 Z5 INVENTOR v. UNITED STATES PATENT oFnicE,

, AMOS L. KNIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO LANSTON MONOTYPE MACHINE COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION, OF VIRGINIA.

METHOD OF MAKING MATRICES FOR CASTING ELEMENTS PRINTING-FORMS.

, To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, AMos L. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Philadelphia,,in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new andlmproved Method of Making Matrices forCasting Elements of Printing-Forms and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specificatlon.

The 1nvent10n relates to the art of making matrices for casting strip material such as rules, leads and the? like, such matrices being adapted to be used in conjunction with a mold to give form to the printing face or equivalent part of, the strip material produced by the associated mold and matrix. More particularlythe invention. relates to matricesfor molds of the type disclosed, for example, in United States Letters, Patent No. 1222315, dated April 10th, 1917, and adapted as part of a type casting machine to produce printers rules, leads and the like, in fused sections to form strips of indefinite length or in non-fused sections of predetermined length. l

The patented apparatus, generally speaking, comprises a mold having an opening fen the entrance of molten metal and being open at one end for the exit of the congealed metal, means for feeding forwardly the congealed metal and means for forcing molten metal behind the forwardly fed congealed metal. The operations of casting and feeding are carried on in timed relation to each other and are repeated in accordance with the amount of product desired. For feeding the congealed metal a reciprocatory meld blade is shown in the said patent, which blade advances, when the metal in the mold cavity is congealed, to push said metal forwardly toward the exit opening of the mold, and retreats thereafter to leave a cavity for the reception of the molten metal to form the succeeding cast.

The present invention has among its principal objects to produce strip material matrices by a method which permits of the forming, as by punching, of a blank matrix into Specification of Letters Patent. Patgntd June 24 1919 Application filed February 15,1918. Serial No. 217,363.

what'may be termed a formed blank matrix provided with one or more cavities of depressionshaving the eneral characteristics of the cavity or cavities desired in the finshed matrix, the punching operation being followed by a severing orcutting of the formed blank matrix through one or more of ;the cavities, the severing for each cavity being on a plane chosen to dimension the cavity and especially the printing surface forming face in accordance with the dimensionszdesired Pin the finished matrix; the severing operation being followed by the substitution for the cut away portion of a side matrix member, permanently secured, as by rivets, to the main'matrix member and serv.- mg to form the wall of the cavity along the plane of severance. A single punch of maximum strength is preferably employed and a stock of. formed blank'matrices is thus produced from which stocka variety of finished matrices may be made, when desired. Another object of the invention is the produc- 10H of a matrix having a cavity onewall of which, as the wall formed by the side mem- -ber,may be perpendicular to the bottom or printingsurface forming face, of the cavity, whereby a typemetal printers rule may be produced having a straight side continued up to the printing surface, known as a flush side rule.

- Another object is concerned with the production of'a matrix having a plurality of parallel cavitiesfrom which a rule for printing, for-example, a plurality of parallel lines may be produced. Such a rule is provided with parallel printing surfaces having a groove or counter between them. If the counter is not sufiiciently deep it will receive and-retain ink in the printing process and the parallel printed lines produced will then frequently be blurred or otherwise imperfeet. The matrix of this invention of the kind. provided with a plurality of parallel The matrix structure as well as the process of makmg the matrix wlll now be more fully set forth in connection with the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of a mold for typemetal strip material, the section being substantially in the plane of the mold blade. Fig. 2 is a cross section of the mold, the section passing through the nozzle opening and also through parts of the pressure screw clamping device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the matrix. Fig. 1 is.a sectional diagrammatic view illustrative of part of the method of forming the matrix. 4 Fig. 5 is a cross section of the formed blank and indicates by a broken line a possible severing plane.

- Fig. 6 is a cross section of the finished matrix including a side member riveted to the main member on'theplane of severance of the formed matrix blank indicated in Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective View of a printers rule formedby the matrix of Fig. 6. Y Inasmuch'as apparatus substantially corresponding to that of the patent hereinbefore mentioned has'gone into extensive public use and is well understood in the art, it is thought to be unnecessary to illustrate herein operating mechanism or stops for the mold blade and means whereby the molten metal is injected into the mold cavity,nor is it necessary, for'an understanding of the present improvement, to illustrate in detail means for severing the gate from the side of the strip,espccially as operating mechanism and the metal melting and injecting mechanism may substantially correspond to mechanism found in the type casting 'machines manufactured by the Lanston Monotype Machine Company, whichhave been in extensive public use for many years.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the mold illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 embodies a'mold base block 8, which is formed with a channel therethrough in the direction of movement of the mold blade, thus providing front and rear upwardly extending portions 4 which are adapted to be connected across the top of the mold by a tie bar or bars 5. Confined within the channel extending through the mold base are the type or side blocksbetween which the cavity for the reception of the molten metal is formed, and these type or side blocks are preferably in the form of bars which extend beyond the mold cavity in each direction and are adapted to be sepa rated a distance which will determine the width of the mold cavity and consequently the point size of the element being cast. The rear type or side block 8 (Fig 2) is preferably formed with a smooth inner face and constitutes one wall of the mold cavity as well as the wall of the passage in which the mold blade works and of the exit opening in which the congealed metal is retained during the injection of molten metal to form a succeeding cast. The front type or side block may be of similar construction and arranged to be placed in opposition to the block 8 but it is preferably formed in two sections 9 and 10, for convenience of manufacture, inasmuch as it has been found desirable to provide at one side of the mold cavity a channel and exit opening through which air and a portion of the molten metal from the mold cavity may escape in the form of a more or less spongy mass, which, for convenience, may be called a gate lying at one side of the element and adapted to be severed therefrom.

B-y reference to Fig. 2 it will be seen that between the two sections 9- and 10 there is formed a narrow space which widens out within the type block in the form of a channel which is conveniently of a dove-tail or triangular cross section, as indicated at 12;

The channel 12 and the narrow entrance slot which connects the channel with the mold cavity are preferably slightly tapered or of increasing cross section toward the exit end so as to prevent binding during the movement of the gate toward the exit of the chan nel. Where the front type block is made in two sections, as just described, the upper section 9is preferably made rigid with the lower section 1.0 by "being fixed accurately thereto and supported by an upwardly extending portion 10 of the section 10, to which it is connected by screws or other suitable fastenings, as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

The two type blocks forming between them the mold cavity and moldblade channel are positioned laterallyof the mold base by a packing plate 17 placed back of the rear type block and by the pressure screw 18 passing through the front projection 4 of the mold base and adapted to operate against the front. type block. This pressure screw, in the preferred construction, is operated periodically in time with the feeding of the element being cast so as to clamp the walls of the mold cavity together during the casting operation and to release such pressure during the feed of the element forwardly in the mold cavity.

The bottom of the mold cavity is formed by the mold base and is provided with a nozzle opening :20 through which the molten metal is injected into the mold cavity through a nozzle 20 indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated herein the mold is adapted for the making of printers type-high strip material provided with a printing surface,

the latter and the portion of the strip' in proximity to said surface being formed" by the matrix 21. This matrix, as shown, isprovided with a narrow printing surface forming face 22, and a wide printingsurface forming face 22 separated by an elevation or bead 22*, being designed to make a printers rule with parallel light and heavy printing edges separated by a counteras shown in Fig. 7. The matrix recess extends through one end of the matrix to its full depth so as to allow ofthe endwise ejection of therule cast against the matrix; the other end of'the cavity stops short of the end 'of the matrix whereby an unpunched end portion 21".(Fi g. 1) is provided for sliding contact with the mold blade. The matrix when positioned rests uponthe type blocks and is adapted to 'seat against a matrix, abutment 23 mounted on the upper face of the rear type block; it is held firmly in position by a matrix clamp 25 having two surfaces 25 for cooperation with one'edge and the top'of the matrix and inclined surface 25" for'coeperation with a corresponding inclined surface on'the matrix abutment 23, whereby when the matrix clamp is forced down by its clamping'screw 26 the matrix will-be forced downwardly and againstlits abutment where itWill be held with precision andin suchrelation to the type block as to prevent any liability of molten metal escaping through the joints; A squirt preventing shield 40 may, if .desired, be removably held upon the clamp 25 by the washer 4:1 yieldingly pressedagainst the shield by. the spring 4:2 positioned between the washer and the head of the screw 26. Y r j The mold blade 27 which is mounted to reciprocate between the side blocks is of a thickness which corresponds to thepoint size of the material being'cast aiid it is guided by the sideblocks, and by the guide extensionsBl, 32, the forward and rear-ward limits of its movement being determined by suitable stops, not shown.: The mold blade is provided with means whereby its: operating member 35 may be readily attached thereto, such means conveniently and preferably consisting of a centrally located circular bearing into which a journal stud 36 on the end of the member 35 is adapted to work. Immediately forward of this circular bearingthe mold blade is formed with an aperture 28 preferably rectangular for the reception of a lateral rectangular projection formed on the rear end of. the gate pusher 28. The projection of .the' gate pusher fits loosely within the. aperture in the mold blade so thatthe pusher may without binding adapt itself vertically as may be required by the guide channel 12; the parts are rectangular so that .in any position a large bearing surface is-provide In accordance with the preferable method of making the matrix of this invention, a matrix blank is placed in a container 43 and operated upon in the usual fashion by a punch 44:, the latter having projections and depressions corresponding respectively with the depressions and projections desired in the formed: matrix blank 45. The projections of the punch, or certain of them, are

larger and stronger than required for pro-= d'uemg a particular finished matrix; for ex-' ample,: the punch projection 44* is wider than :the corresponding depression or print ing surface forming face desired in the ma-l trixishown in Fig. 6 and the matrix blank 21 (Fig. 6) the width of which addedtothe width of the main matrix member ispreferably equal to the desired width of the finish'edmatrix. The side and main portions of the matrix are secured together asyby rivets'21 I Among the advantages of this method of manufacture maybe pointed out the following :-A large stock of formed matrix blanks 45 may be produced by punching matrix; blanks, with a single punch from which stock a variety of finished matrices may be made by cutting away indifferent planes to form matrices for wide and-narrow printing faces The provision of a wider punch projection" 44*? than, may be desired for the corresponding cavity in the finished matrix renders the punch 44 stronger than ifitwere made of the dimensions desired'for the finished matrix and it may have counter-balancing inclines regard less of the width of "the cavity inthe'finished matrix, and there is thus less liability of breakage. The punch depression forming the bead 22 of thefinished matrix, may be made deeper than would otherwise be practical so asto produce a higher bead 22 in the finished matrix; and consequently a deeper counter 46 in a given point size rule or.

other element 46 producedfrom said matrix. This advantage is of great practical importance. in connection with the manufacture of matrices for typemetal elements having a narrow counter, because with the deep counter resultant from'this process thecollection of ink therein during the-printing operation and the blurred and otherwise imperfect printing matter produced because of such collection are practically prevented. Another advantage inherent in this inven-' tion is that a productfsuch as that shown in Fig. .7 is obtainable one or more sides of which extend ina single plane up to the printing'surface. This is due: to thejuse-of a side member 21- which has no bevel of the surface forming the side wall of the depression22 said side wall, being perpendicular to the printing surface forming face of the depression 22*, is, in effect, a continuation of the mold wall and the product 46 shown in Fig. 7- shows no break or change of direction in the surface formed by the mold and the alined surface formed by the side matrix member 21*. A product of this kind is particularly desirable, as will readily be'understood by those skilled in the art, when it is necessary to produce an accurate joining of design in printed matter and such design is. partly on one typemetal'eleme'nt and partly on an adjoining element. -A fur ther advantage of the invention lies in the fact that the beveled or slanting walls of the punch may be beveled at the proper. angle for giving requisitejstrength and producing smooth surfaces in the formed matrix blank, although such angle may not be the most desirable in the finished matrix, for, bycutting away and replacing by one ormore side pieces a matrix may be produced having the proper bevel from. the viewpoint of the matrix and its use, or may indeed have no bevel at all, and is free of many of the defects resultant from the usual methods of manufacture. vZ

By eliminating the side bevel from the matrix a rule having a straight side is obtained, the printing surface ofwhich-extends laterally to the side wall of the rule body. This is particularlyadvantageous in connection with rules having a plurality of parallel; printing surfaces with counters between them, because'one .or more'of these surfaces' may be thus extended to the side wall of the rule so as to gain a greater width of printing surface therefor or to cause adjacent printing surfaces of given widths to be spaced apart to a maximum degree with a thin. body whereby a suflicient space is left between them to provide a deep counter in the rule. I It will thus be seen'that the ma trix of the present invention is provided with a maximum total width of cavity bottom, the cavity bottoms corresponding, of

course, with the printing surfaces of the rule's producedfrom the matrices and with a high elevation or head between bottoms. This permits of a maximum total width of printing surface in any given point size rule and of desirably deep counters in rules pro vided with a plurality of parallel closely spaced'printing surfaces. I a In operation the mold blade is re'ciprocated from a point in" advance of the nozzle opening 20 to a point in rear thereof, the top of the blade being in sliding leak-proof contact with the surface-21 of'the matrix 21 and molten metal is injectedthroug'h said nozzle opening when the blade is in its re tracted osition. v

The urward wall of the mold cavity is not a structural part ofthe mold and-is not shown; it is formed by'the rear edge of the typemetal cast previously made and thereafter advanced by the forward reciprocation of the blade. At the time of casting, as will readily be understood by those familiar with the art',this previously cast type metal is clamped tightly by the screw 18 in positionto withstand the pressure of the entering molten metal. By removing the shield 40 then unscrewing the screw 26 and lifting off the clamp 25, the matrix can be readily removed and replaced.

What is claimed is:

1. The process of making a matrix for casting a printing form element having an elongated printing face one side edge of which is coincident with an edge of the side face of the body of theelement; which con sists informing an elongated matrix cavity 35 in the matrix body with a printing surface formingface' of greater width than that of the desired printing: surface, then cutting away the side of the matrix body and a part of the printing surface forming faceto reduce the latter to the desired width, and finally forming a permanent side wallfor the matrixcavity with its innerfac'e perpendicular to the printing surface forming face, and in a planecoincident with the plane in which the side of the element is to be formed. 1 V

2. The process' of making a matrix for casting a printing form element having an elongated printing face one side edge of which is coincident with an edge of the side face of the body of the element; which consists in forming an elongated matrix cavity in the matrix body open both on one side and one end to the full depth of the cavity and in forming a permanent side wall for the open side of the cavity with its inner face perpendicular to the printing surface forming faceo f the cavity and "in a plane coincident'with the planein which the side of the element is to be formed whereby a'fiush side element may be castand ejected in the direction of the length of the cavity through the open end of the latter.

3. The process of making a matrix for casting a printing'form element having an elongated printing face one side edge of which iscoincident with an edge of the side face of the body of the element; which con- 'sists in forming the matrix cavity with a printing surface forming face, of greater width than the desired printing surface, then reducing the width of the printing surface forming face by cutting away the side of the matrix, and finally forming a perma- 12 nent sidewall for said cavity with its inner face substantially at right angles to said printing surface forming face.

4. The process of making a matrix for casting a printing form element having an elongated printing face one side edge of greater Width than the desired printing face, which is coincident with an edge of the side -then reducing the Width of the said face by face of the body of the element; Which concutting away the body of the matrix and 10 sists in forming an elongated matrix cavity finally securing a side Wall for said cavity in the body of the matrix open at one end to the body of the matrix.

to the greatest depth of the cavity and hav- 7 ing a printing surface forming face of AMOS L. KNIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

